1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” Real Women Have Curves begins in a tiny sewing factory owned by Estella in East Los Angeles. Ana, Estella's sister, and Carmen, Estella's mother, enter the sewing factory early in the morning to get the factory running and begin their long day of hard work. It is Monday morning on September 7, 1987. The characters introduced as Pancha and Rosali are Estella's workers. Ana's first thoughts and actions show her lack of energy and her desire to go home. However, Carmen has a better attitude about helping Estella keep her factory. One dramatic situation of the film occurs when Estella informs her workers and family she has no money to pay them. She also informs them they cannot get paid until they finish the large order of dresses by the end of the month. Another dramatic situation is when Estella reveals her "tormento" only wanted her for her body and not because she was intelligent and talented.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? The intrusion of the play was revealed when Estella broke the news to her workers that she was the only illegal immigrant in the factory. While everyone continuously reminds themselves they are legal and no longer need to hide from la migra. Estella reveals she cannot become one because she has a criminal record for stealing a lobster and not appearing in court. This catches everyone by surprise because of what she did and the fact that they had no idea this event took place. This changes everyone's perspective; Now everyone must be very careful and watch out for la migra or Estella could be deported and all her hard work would become a waste.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? The play takes place at a low point in Ana's life. Ana currently is a graduate of high school and is looking forward to a new chapter in her life. Ana looks forward to college to become a writer and live out her dreams. Unfortunately, Ana cannot fulfill her strongest desires because her sister needs her help in the factory. Her mom tries to make Ana feel slightly guilty for wanting better things for herself. Carmen calls Ana ungrateful and disclaims she should be willing to help her sister. Most of the play takes place in the hot factory to illustrate the terrible conditions the workers had to perform in. The factory was uncomfortable and sticky, however, they all adjusted for the sake of Estella.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will Estella's factory last for years to come? Will Estella find her true love? Will Ana become a successful writer?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles. Ana wants to be a writer more than anything. Her family prevents her from becoming her dream by in a way forcing her to work in Estella's factory. They affect the way Ana perceives herself. For example, Carmen never expresses body positivity and makes Ana seem not beautiful and unwanted. Carmen expresses her want for grandchildren and complains about her age. She tries to make her daughters feel as if the path they chose was not the correct one. Ana also is conflicted with society and their idea of beautiful women. She tries to convince the women that pretty girls are not all skinny. Big women are pretty as well.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves. The theatrical moment was when all the women in the factory stripped down and compared body parts. This when the workers finally accepted their bodies and believed they were truly beautiful. They compare flaws and become liberated. Each woman no longer cares about men's perspective and feel comfortable in their own skin.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) 1) The Sewing Factory
The factory symbolizes as a safe haven for the women. They constantly hide from migration in the factory, they gossip in the factory, and they make their living by working in the factory. Everyone who works there feels a connection between one another that resembles one of a family. The factory makes them feel safe and secluded from the outside world. 2) The dresses
The dresses symbolize societies perception of women. They believed they were not good enough or had no place in the real world because they could not fit into the dresses they were making, however, after stripping down they realized their self-worth and decided to go beyond the norm and make dresses that fit them. With this idea, bigger, plump women are now included in society and can now find their place. 3) Ana's journal
Ana's journal demonstrates how alone Ana's feels in a world larger than her. She struggles to find her purpose and execute following her dreams so she uses the journal as an outlet to express her true feelings that she can't express to her family.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women. ~Acceptance ~ Self-Love/ Self-Worth ~Preserverance
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why? Family plays a huge role in this play. Family is the reason Ana is working in the factory and Estella is able to keep the factory open. It's defined as tight knit, unbreakable, and accepting in some cases. Family wants the best for the other family members and work hard to do whatever they can to help. It is described as a joyous headache of a relationship but beneficial.
Real Women Have Curves begins in a tiny sewing factory owned by Estella in East Los Angeles. Ana, Estella's sister, and Carmen, Estella's mother, enter the sewing factory early in the morning to get the factory running and begin their long day of hard work. It is Monday morning on September 7, 1987. The characters introduced as Pancha and Rosali are Estella's workers. Ana's first thoughts and actions show her lack of energy and her desire to go home. However, Carmen has a better attitude about helping Estella keep her factory. One dramatic situation of the film occurs when Estella informs her workers and family she has no money to pay them. She also informs them they cannot get paid until they finish the large order of dresses by the end of the month. Another dramatic situation is when Estella reveals her "tormento" only wanted her for her body and not because she was intelligent and talented.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion of the play was revealed when Estella broke the news to her workers that she was the only illegal immigrant in the factory.
While everyone continuously reminds themselves they are legal and no longer need to hide from la migra. Estella reveals she cannot become one because she has a criminal record for stealing a lobster and not appearing in court. This catches everyone by surprise because of what she did and the fact that they had no idea this event took place. This changes everyone's perspective; Now everyone must be very careful and watch out for la migra or Estella could be deported and all her hard work would become a waste.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play takes place at a low point in Ana's life. Ana currently is a graduate of high school and is looking forward to a new chapter in her life. Ana looks forward to college to become a writer and live out her dreams. Unfortunately, Ana cannot fulfill her strongest desires because her sister needs her help in the factory. Her mom tries to make Ana feel slightly guilty for wanting better things for herself. Carmen calls Ana ungrateful and disclaims she should be willing to help her sister. Most of the play takes place in the hot factory to illustrate the terrible conditions the workers had to perform in. The factory was uncomfortable and sticky, however, they all adjusted for the sake of Estella.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Estella's factory last for years to come?
Will Estella find her true love?
Will Ana become a successful writer?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana wants to be a writer more than anything. Her family prevents her from becoming her dream by in a way forcing her to work in Estella's factory. They affect the way Ana perceives herself. For example, Carmen never expresses body positivity and makes Ana seem not beautiful and unwanted. Carmen expresses her want for grandchildren and complains about her age. She tries to make her daughters feel as if the path they chose was not the correct one. Ana also is conflicted with society and their idea of beautiful women. She tries to convince the women that pretty girls are not all skinny. Big women are pretty as well.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The theatrical moment was when all the women in the factory stripped down and compared body parts. This when the workers finally accepted their bodies and believed they were truly beautiful. They compare flaws and become liberated. Each woman no longer cares about men's perspective and feel comfortable in their own skin.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1) The Sewing Factory
The factory symbolizes as a safe haven for the women. They constantly hide from migration in the factory, they gossip in the factory, and they make their living by working in the factory. Everyone who works there feels a connection between one another that resembles one of a family. The factory makes them feel safe and secluded from the outside world.
2) The dresses
The dresses symbolize societies perception of women. They believed they were not good enough or had no place in the real world because they could not fit into the dresses they were making, however, after stripping down they realized their self-worth and decided to go beyond the norm and make dresses that fit them. With this idea, bigger, plump women are now included in society and can now find their place.
3) Ana's journal
Ana's journal demonstrates how alone Ana's feels in a world larger than her. She struggles to find her purpose and execute following her dreams so she uses the journal as an outlet to express her true feelings that she can't express to her family.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
~Acceptance
~ Self-Love/ Self-Worth
~Preserverance
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family plays a huge role in this play. Family is the reason Ana is working in the factory and Estella is able to keep the factory open. It's defined as tight knit, unbreakable, and accepting in some cases. Family wants the best for the other family members and work hard to do whatever they can to help. It is described as a joyous headache of a relationship but beneficial.